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months ago, but all the time I was ready to bust, and didnā€™t know it. Now, then, I donā€™t want you to blame Sibyl, and if I were you I wouldnā€™t speak of her as ā€˜that woman,ā€™ because sheā€™s your daughter-in-law and going to stay that way. She didnā€™t do anything wicked. It was a shock to me, and I donā€™t deny it, to find what she had doneā ā€”encouraging that fellow to hang around her after he began trying to flirt with her, and losing her head over him the way she did. I donā€™t deny it was a shock and that itā€™ll always be a hurt inside of me Iā€™ll never get over. But it was my fault; I didnā€™t understand a womanā€™s nature.ā€ Poor Roscoe spoke in the most profound and desolate earnest. ā€œA woman craves society, and gaiety, and meeting attractive people, and traveling. Well, I canā€™t give her the other things, but I can give her the travelingā ā€”real traveling, not just going to Atlantic City or New Orleans, the way she has, two, three times. A woman has to have something in her life besides a business man. And thatā€™s all I was. I never understood till I heard her talking when she was so sick, and I believe if youā€™d heard her then you wouldnā€™t speak so hard-heartedly about her; I believe you might have forgiven her like I have. Thatā€™s all. I never cared anything for any girl but her in my life, but I was so busy with business I put it ahead of her. I never thought about her, I was so busy thinking business. Well, this is where itā€™s brought us toā ā€”and now when you talk about ā€˜businessā€™ to me I feel the way you do when anybody talks about Gurney to you. The word ā€˜businessā€™ makes me dizzyā ā€”it makes me honestly sick at the stomach. I believe if I had to go downtown and step inside that office door Iā€™d fall down on the floor, deathly sick. You talk about a ā€˜monthā€™s vacationā€™ā ā€”and I get just as sick. Iā€™m rattledā ā€”I canā€™t planā ā€”I havenā€™t got any plansā ā€”canā€™t make any, except to take my girl and get just as far away from that office as I canā ā€”and stay. Weā€™re going to Japan first, and if weā ā€”ā€

His father rustled the paper. ā€œI said goodbye, Roscoe.ā€

ā€œGoodbye,ā€ said Roscoe, listlessly.

XXIV

Sheridan waited until he heard the sound of the outer door closing; then he rose and pushed a tiny disk set in the wall. Jackson appeared.

ā€œHas Bibbs got home from work?ā€

ā€œMistā€™ Bibbs? No, suh.ā€

ā€œTell him I want to see him, soon as he comes.ā€

ā€œYessuh.ā€

Sheridan returned to his chair and fixed his attention fiercely upon the newspaper. He found it difficult to pursue the items beyond their explanatory rubricsā ā€”there was nothing unusual or startling to concentrate his attention:

ā€œMotorman Puts Blame on Brakes. Three Killed when Car Slides.ā€ ā€œBurglars Make Big Haul.ā€ ā€œBoard Works Approve Big Car-line Extension.ā€ ā€œHoldup Men Injure Two. Man Found in Alley, Skull Fractured.ā€ ā€œSickening Story Told in Divorce Court.ā€ ā€œPlan New Eighteen-story Structure.ā€ ā€œSchoolgirl Meets Death under Automobile.ā€ ā€œNegro Cuts Three. One Dead.ā€ ā€œLife Crushed Out. Third Elevator Accident in Same Building Causes Action by Coroner.ā€ ā€œDeclare Militia will be Menace. Polish Societies Protest to Governor in Church Rioting Case.ā€ ā€œShort $3,500 in Accounts, Trusted Man Kills Self with Drug.ā€ ā€œFound Frozen. Family Without Food or Fuel. Baby Dead when Parents Return Home from Seeking Work.ā€ ā€œMinister Returned from Trip Abroad Lectures on Big Future of Our City. Sees Big Improvement during Short Absence. Says No European City Holds Candle.ā€ (Sheridan nodded approvingly here.)

Bibbs came through the hall whistling, and entered the room briskly. ā€œWell, father, did you want me?ā€

ā€œYes. Sit down.ā€ Sheridan got up, and Bibbs took a seat by the fire, holding out his hands to the crackling blaze, for it was cold outdoors.

ā€œI came within seven of the shop record today,ā€ he said. ā€œI handled more strips than any other workman has any day this month. The nearest to me is sixteen behind.ā€

ā€œThere!ā€ exclaimed his father, greatly pleased. ā€œWhatā€™d I tell you? Iā€™d like to hear Gurney hint again that I wasnā€™t right in sending you thereā ā€”I would just like to hear him! And youā ā€”ainā€™t you ashamed of makinā€™ such a fuss about it? Ainā€™t you?ā€

ā€œI didnā€™t go at it in the right spirit the other time,ā€ Bibbs said, smiling brightly, his face ruddy in the cheerful firelight. ā€œI didnā€™t know the difference it meant to like a thing.ā€

ā€œWell, I guess Iā€™ve pretty thoroughly vindicated my judgement. I guess I have! I said the shopā€™d be good for you, and it was. I said it wouldnā€™t hurt you, and it hasnā€™t. Itā€™s been just exactly what I said it would be. Ainā€™t that so?ā€

ā€œLooks like it!ā€ Bibbs agreed, gaily.

ā€œWell, Iā€™d like to know any place I been wrong, first and last! Instead oā€™ hurting you, itā€™s been the makinā€™ of youā ā€”physically. Youā€™re a good inch tallerā€™n what I am, and youā€™d be a bigger man than what I am if youā€™d get some flesh on your bones; and you are gettinā€™ a little. Physically, itā€™s started you out to be the huskiest one oā€™ the whole family. Now, then, mentallyā ā€”thatā€™s different. I donā€™t say it unkindly, Bibbs, but you got to do something for yourself mentally, just like whatā€™s begun physically. And Iā€™m goinā€™ to help you.ā€

Sheridan decided to sit down again. He brought his chair close to his sonā€™s, and, leaning over, tapped Bibbsā€™s knee confidentially. ā€œI got plans for you, Bibbs,ā€ he said.

Bibbs instantly looked thoroughly alarmed. He drew back. ā€œIā ā€”Iā€™m all right now, father.ā€

ā€œListen.ā€ Sheridan settled himself in his chair, and spoke in the tone of a reasonable man reasoning. ā€œListen here, Bibbs. I had another blow today, and it was a hard one and right in the face, though I have been expectinā€™ it some little time back. Well, itā€™s got to be met. Now Iā€™ll be frank with you.

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